Android and Meis reporting on an interesting rumor about a supposed prototype for Google Inc.'s (GOOG) next generation Nexus phone (the fifth generation model). Supposedly, LG Electronics, Inc. (KSC:066570) is competing for the contract with a model called "Megalodon", which appears to have a truly monstrous spec.

The Google-branded smartphones have been a tradition for Google since the 2010 Nexus One by HTC Corp. (TPE:2498). The Nexus One was succeeded by the Nexus S (Dec. 2010), Galaxy Nexus (Nov. 2011) from Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (KSC:005930), Nexus 4 (Nov. 2012) by LG Electronics

LG will have to work hard to win another contract from Google. While its Nexus 4 was well received and a hot seller, it was set back by troubling supply shortages during the 2012 holiday season. A Google rep. described the supplies as "scarce and erratic" -- not exactly a glowing recommendation.

But the spec sheet on the Megalodon (if accurate) is hard not to love:

A supposed picture of the "Megalodon" prototype. [Image Source: Android and Me]

The gesture control makes sense; it would put the device in line with Samsung's just-released Galaxy S IV. The 1080p screen resolution is also pretty predictable; both the HTC One and the GSIV pack 1080p. The surprises are the inclusion of OLED -- a technology LG is indeed pursuing hard -- the large battery, and the super-powerful Snapdragon 800.

The Snapdragon 800 won't be sampling till early next quarter, making the rumor a bit hard to believe. If LG can pull off the device by the expected October launch date for the Nexus 5, it will have to snatch up much of the early production of Qualcomm's most prized upcoming high-end chip.

An image (above) also leaked, but it's hard to see whether the case will be metal or plastic (it looks like the rim is either metal or metallic toned plastic, at least).

I also understand that one of the least done tasks with a smartphone is to actually make voice calls with it. More often it is game playing, listening to music, texting, web surfing. So in that view a larger screen makes a bit of sense.

smartphones are moving away from being on-your-face voice-only devices. They are becoming more and more general communications terminals for doing video and textual communications as well as voice. With bluetooth there becomes less and less need to actually hold it to your face.

However that said, there comes a point where these devices start becoming too big to be pocket friendly. The samsung GS3 pushes hard at that boundary while devices such as the Galaxy Note shatter it. For me a 5.2" screen is too big if it pushes the overall size of the phone bigger than the Samsung Galaxy S3 - even if it is a powerhouse.